Cal football to open some spring practices to public

BERKELEY -- Cal football practices still will be open to the public this spring, just not all of them.

The Bears begin spring workouts Monday with the first of six practices scheduled to be open to fans.

Unlike last season, when every practice was open, second-year coach Sonny Dykes has decided to give spectators access to just a portion of the spring workout schedule after the Bears struggled to a 1-11 record last fall.

Monday's first workout runs from 3:30 to 6 p.m. The Bears' spring practice schedule ends on Saturday, April 26 with the spring game, open to the public and televised by the Pac-12 Networks, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The scrimmage is being dubbed the Cal Spring Football Experience and will include the opportunity for fans to interact with players and coaches during on-field football action. There also will be complimentary schedule posters, coffee and donuts, face painting, balloon artists and a photo station.

Other open practices will be Saturday, April 5 (11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.), Wednesday, April 9 (3:30 to 6 p.m.), Saturday, April 12 (10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) and Friday, April 18 (3:30 to 6 p.m.).

The Bears open the 2014 regular season at Northwestern on Aug. 31. Cal's home opener is Sept. 6 against Sacramento State.